              TABLE 1                                                     ______________________________________                                    Functions Contents of the functions                                       ______________________________________                                    Print queues                                                                        A print job outputted from a plurality ofWSs 103               function  is time-sequentially queued.                                    Job ID    A job ID is generated in response to the print job.             generating                                                                function                                                                  Job ID    A user ID and a connection ID for the print job                 storage   are stored.                                                     function                                                                  Message queue                                                                       A message including therein the job ID received                 function  from the scanner/printer controller 107 through theNIC 106 is time-sequentially queued.                            Job owner The job ID of the queued message is checked, and a              identifying                                                                         job owner is identified from the user ID and the                function  connection ID each corresponding to the job ID.                 Message send-                                                                       In a case where the identified job owner exists on              out function                                                                        the network, the message is immediately sent out                          to the corresponding client machine.                            Deleting  After the message is transferred, the                           function  corresponding message, job ID, user ID and                                connection ID are deleted.                                      Message   If the job owner identified by the job owner                    processing                                                                          specifying function does not exist on the network               terminating                                                                         101 due to a log out or a power being turned OFF,               function  the corresponding message is aborted and the                              processing is terminated.                                       Message queue                                                                       If the job owner identified by the job owner                    function  specifying function does not exist on thenetwork                         101 due to a log out or a power being turned OFF,                         the corresponding message is maintained or stored                         in the message queue, and whether the identified                          job owner is logged in again or not is periodically                       checked, and when the log-in is checked, the                              message maintained or stored is immediately                               transferred.                                                    Print profile                                                                       Print profiles each for specifying printing                     maintaining                                                                         conditions such as a paper pass, and a finishing                function  or the like are maintained or stored in a                                 plurality of files.                                             ______________________________________

              TABLE 2                                                     ______________________________________                                    Functions Contents of the functions                                       ______________________________________                                    User ID   A user ID of an owner of each print profile is                  storage   stored for each print profile.                                  function                                                                  Print profile                                                                       When the print job queued by the print queue                    linking   function is transferred to the network interface                function  controller, whether the print profile is                                  maintained or not is checked by the user ID                               identical to the corresponding print job, and in a                        case where the print profile of the identical user                        ID exists thereon, the print profile corresponding                        to the header of print jobs is connected thereto,                         and a determination flag indicating their                                 connection is set.                                              Scan profile                                                                        A plurality of files of scan                                    maintaining                                                                         profile for specifying scanning                                 function  conditions such as a document                                             size, and reading conditions or                                           the like are maintained or stored.                              Scan profile                                                                        In a case where power for the scanner/printer                   transferring                                                                        controller 107 is started up and in a case where                function (1),                                                                       there is some data added to or modified in the                  or        scan profile maintained or stored in the scan                             profile maintaining function, the whole scan                              profile is transferred to the scan/printer                                controller 107 through theNIC 106.                             Scan profile                                                                        A list of the whole scan profile is transferred in              transferring                                                                        a case where the list thereof is required to be                 function (2)                                                                        transferred by the scanner/printer controller 107,                        and in a case where a particular scan profile is                          required to be transferred, the corresponding scan                        profile is transferred.                                         Scan image                                                                          The scan image file transferred from the scanner/               filestorage                                                                        printer controller 107 thereto through the NIC 10               function  6 is stored according to the prespecified file                            system.                                                         Maintaining                                                                         Necessity or unnecessity data added to the print                function  job is maintained or stored.                                    Message   In a case where the message is not required, a                  aborting  message is stopped to be send out to a job owner                function  by the message send- out function, and the                                message is aborted.                                             ______________________________________

The NIC 106 (the network interface controller according to the present invention) has the functions shown in Table 3 described below.

              TABLE 3                                                     ______________________________________                                    Functions  Contents of the functions                                      ______________________________________                                    Print job  A print job queued on thefile server 104 is                   transferring                                                                         taken out by each job, and is transferred to the               function   scanner/printer controller 107.                                Message    A message including therein the job ID                         transferring                                                                         is received from the scanner/printer                           function   controller 107, and is transferred to                                     thefile server 104.                                           ______________________________________

The scanner/printer controller 107 (the scanner/printer controller in the digital copier system according to the present invention) has the functions shown in Table 4 and Table 5 described below.

              TABLE 4                                                     ______________________________________                                    Functions Contents of the functions                                       ______________________________________                                    Print job A job ID for a print job received from the                      executingNIC 106 is stored, and the print job is                         function  executed.                                                       Message   In a case where the print job is successfully                   generating                                                                          completed and in a case where the job is                        /returning                                                                          suspended due to some error, an appropriate                     function  message is generated for each case, and is                                returned to theNIC 106 together with the job                             ID.                                                             Command   Whether any print profile is linked to the                      override  print job received from theNIC 106 or not is                   function  checked, and in a case where the print profile                            is linked thereto, a command related to the                               paper handling included in the print job is                               replaced for a command related to the identical                           paper handling included in the print profile.                   Copied scan                                                                         The whole scan profile transferred from thefile                profile   server 104 is maintained or stored as a copied                  maintaining                                                                         scan profile.                                                   function                                                                  List      In a case where a network scanner function is                   selecting requested from the operating panel in thecopier                function  105, a list of copied scan profiles is displayed                (1),      on theoperating panel 111, and a desired scan                  or        profile is selected.                                            List      In a case where a network scanner function is                   selecting requested from the operating panel in thecopier                function  105, a request for transferring the whole scan                  (2)       profiles is outputted to thefile server 104,                             and the list of the whole scan profiles                                   transferred from the server machine is displayed                          on theoperating panel 111, and a desired scan                            profile is selected.                                            Scan      The contents of the scan profile selected by the                profile   list selecting function is made to be displayed                 identifying                                                                         on theoperating panel 111, so that a user can                  function  identify it.                                                    Scan      A scan operation is started by controlling theoperation copier 105 when a start switch on the operating                 startingpanel 111 is pressed.                                           function                                                                  Scan image                                                                          Scan image data read out by thecopier 105 is                   data      temporarily accumulated.                                        accumulating                                                              function                                                                  ______________________________________

              TABLE 5                                                     ______________________________________                                    Functions                                                                          Contents of the functions                                        ______________________________________                                    Scan image                                                                         After scanning operations of the whole                           file     document are finished, the whole scan image                      transferring                                                                       data is converted to a specified format, and                     function is transferred to thefile server 104 as a                                scan image file.                                                 Title    At a point of time when the scanning                             displaying                                                                         operation are finished, a title of the                           function scan image data accumulated by the scan                                   image data accumulated function is                                        displayed on the operating panel.                                Page number                                                                        In a case where a multi-document is scanned by                   displaying                                                                         using an ADRF, a page number at which the scan is                function finished is displayed at each time.                              Error    In a case where any error is generated during                    displaying                                                                         scanning, the contents of the error is displayed                 function thereon.                                                         Rescannig                                                                          In a case where an error is one allowing                         commanding                                                                         continuation of scanning, a required page number is              function displayed, and a message commanding for scanning it                       again from the corresponding page is displayed on                         theoperating panel 111.                                         Scan image                                                                         In a case where an error is one disabling                        data deleting                                                                      continuation of scanning, the scan image data                    function temporarily accumulated therein until then is                             automatically deleted.                                           ______________________________________

The WS 103 (the client machine according to the present invention) has the functions shown in Table 6 described below.

              TABLE 6                                                     ______________________________________                                    Functions Contents of the functions                                       ______________________________________                                    Message   In a case where any message is received from the                displayingfile server 104, the contents of the message is                 function  automatically displayed on the screen.                          Necessity/                                                                          When a print job is outputted to thefile                       unnecessity                                                                         server 104, necessity/unnecessity data whether a                data adding                                                                         message at the time of completion/suspension of                 function  the corresponding print job is required or not is                         added to the job.                                               Print profile                                                                       Contents of the print profile maintained or stored              reregistering                                                                       on thefiler server 104 is edited, modified and                 function  reregistered.                                                   Scan profile                                                                        Contents of the scan profile maintained or stored               reregistering                                                                       on thefiler server 104 is edited, modified and                 function  reregistered.                                                   Scan image                                                                          The scan image file stored by the scan image file               file reading                                                                        storage function in thefile server 104 is read,                function  and is handled as an ordinary image file.                       ______________________________________

3! Configuration of Software and Hardware in the Digital Copier System

FIG. 2 shows general configuration of the software in the digital copier system according to the present invention, and a group of the software (Interface Drivers) called as drivers each for driving an hardware interface is provided in the lowest layers. These drivers are controlled by the incorporated type real time/multi-task OS (System OS), and schedule a plurality of tasks each irregularly generated without delaying them and make them execute.

Provided on the incorporated type of OS are a group of manager software for efficiently using common hardware assets such as a memory and a timer or the like, and a group of system utility software commonly usable for each application.

Interfaces for a group of drivers, a group of managers, and a group of utilities are prepared for embedded applications, and these groups are used by the embedded applications such as print/scanner/FAX-send/FAX-receive or the like.

A NIC driver, a HDD driver, a FAX modem driver, a host driver exchange data with theNIC 106,HDD 109,FAX modem 108 and the applications or the utilities respectively, and the host driver includes therein a parallel/serial interface for a printer and a SCSI for a scanner, and data is exchanged between the machines and the host.

An engine driver exchanges a status with thecopier engine section 110, sets paper handling, starts up the printer/scanner, and makes communications with theoperating panel 111.

A printer driver controls an input-output of printer video data (setting of DMA, and setting of smoothing or the like), and a scanner driver controls an input of scanner video data (setting of DMA, setting of a data compression system, setting of a scan mode or the like).

A memory manager manages a RAM and efficiently makes use of the limited memory by dynamically allocating a memory to each task or an application by providing one unit of physical memory or by releasing it according to a request from each task or an application.

A file manager efficiently manages theHDD 109 as a secondary memory, and is software for managing a file list, registering and deleting a title of a file, and provides a linked control between the list and an actual stored area.

A timer can be used by each task and applications by being shared therewith, and a right of using the timer is transferred to another task if necessary.

A font manager provides font data required by each printer language according to the request therefrom.

Data compression and image rotation or the like are also a group of software each usable when images are processed by the scanner, printer, FAX-send, and FAX-receive by being shared therewith, and in addition to the software described above, there are various types of group of software which can be used by being shared therewith, but description thereof is omitted herein.

FIG. 3 shows general configuration of hardware in the digital copier system according to the embodiment, which is ordinary configuration thereof, and the configuration comprises aCPU 301, aROM 302, aRAM 303, and atimer 304, and furthermore comprises, as physical interfaces, a host I/F 305, a NIC I/F 306, a FAX modem I/F 307, an engine I/F 310, an operating panel I/F 311 and a HDD I/F 312, a printer video DMA I/F 308 as a portion of controlling an input-output of a video signal for the printer/scanner, and a scanner video DMA I/F 309 or the like.

A video signal for the printer/scanner is inputted and outputted at high speed, a direct signal to and input/output from a memory with the DMA, and control for smoothing (technology of improvement in an image) on outputting an image from the printer and data compression or the like on inputting thereinto an image by the scanner are executed by hardware-processing (the printer video DMA I/F 308 and scanner video DMA I/F 309) with an ASIC/LSI or the like.

TheRAM 303 has extendable configuration, and, physically is one unit of continuous memory, but, logically, is used for various purposes under control by the memory manager. Each application or utility software obtain a memory capacity required for the software by requesting it to the memory manager and starts the operations. In a case where a sufficient capacity of memory can not be obtained, the RAM has to wait until the memory can be obtained because the operation can not be carried out without it. For instance, in a case where the scanner is requested during operation of the printer, both functions can run when a memory capacity becomes sufficient therein, but in a case where the capacity is insufficient therein, the scanner function has to stand by until the printer function is completed.

A required program is stored in theROM 302, but the program may be stored in theHDD 109. In this case, only a program for loading a required program from theHDD 109 may be stored in theROM 302. The loaded program operates on theRAM 303.

Programs each provided onto theROM 302 or theHDD 109 are modularized for each application software, and, for instance, if the scanner service software described above (scanner application software) is separated from the others by each ROM module or by each load unit to theHDD 109, the scanner function can be made optional, so that the scanner service software can be provided only to a user requiring that software, and for this reason, the costs loaded to a user not requiring the scanner function can be avoided.

4! A Data Processing Flow of the Scanner/Printer Controller

Next, a description is made for a data processing flow of the scanner/printer controller 107. Generally, print data is printed onto recording paper finally as raster data while the data varies its form in the controller. The data form is modified in memory-to-memory (data delivery between memories), and becomes the flow as shown in FIG. 4. In the figure, the sequence from processing a to processing e indicates a processing of modification executed between memories.

The more detailed contents of the sequence from processing a to processing e is as described below.

Processing a: to synthesize data streams transferred from outside in a non-synchronous sending by using an input data buffer.

Processing b: to divide the data stream into job units and to store them in the job data buffer. A job unit indicates a unit of printer language (ex: PCL, 5/PS2), or a user.

Processing c: to convert each job to intermediate data (a display list) by each page. The data is secondary arrangement data including therein data for an actual page layout, data for fonts, and data for a paper size.

Processing d: To fix the intermediate data by each page, and to mechanically convert the data to a raster image.

Processing e: To synchronize a frame of the raster image to that of thecopier engine section 110, and to output the image as video data.

Also, a control for stacking pages with face up in the decreasing page number, and control for jumping pages for duplex printing are saved in the HDD in a form of intermediate data, and the controls are carried out by searching pages in the required order of pages.

It should be noted that, generally, a data form when page data (intermediate data) is saved in the HDD includes the three types as described below, and the data is saved as intermediate data or raster data for controls for stacking pages in the descending order and for jumping pages.

(1) Saving as a job data file

There are many cases where one unit of job comprises a plurality of pages. Generally, conditions specified in the previous page (e.g. specifying a font, or a page-format, or the like) are succeeded and influence is effected to the following pages in many cases. Accordingly, this type of method can not be employed because the order of pages in each job can not be controlled. (2) Saving as an intermediate data (display list) file

Data can be saved by each page, so that the order of pages can be controlled. The advantage thereof is that a quantity of data in this saving mode is generally small. A quantity of data does not depend on its resolution. Also the disadvantage thereof is that a long period of time is required for converting the data to final raster data. A download font or the like may be lost during the job. (3) Saving as a raster data file

Data can be saved by each page, so that the order of pages can be controlled. The advantage thereof is that a time required for post processing is unnecessary because the data has already been converted to raster data. The data is accurately controlled because the data is in the final form. Also the disadvantage thereof is that a quantity of data is large. A quantity of data depends on its resolution.

Whether the data is saved in the HDD as intermediate data or raster data is a matter for option, but it should be saved as intermediate data having a small quantity of data in consideration of a data transfer rate for input to and output from the HDD. A long period of time required for input to and output from the HDD becomes a bottle neck, and the printing performance is largely affected thereby.

Assuming that, in a standard text (average of 5K-byte/page) for performance regulation, 40 byte/letter are added thereto, 200K-byte/page is required for the intermediate data. Assuming that 100 pages are prepared for a spoolar for a control of pages for stacking in the descending order and control for jumping over pages, the capacity of 20M-bytes is required for the HDD. In a case where multi-function machine comprises thedigital copier system 102, a large memory capacity (HDD) is included therein. It is preferable to previously estimate how much capacity of HDD is required. Memory space allocation to each job as shown in Table 7 is considered to be enough for a general purpose.

              TABLE 7                                                     ______________________________________                                              Capacity for                                                                         Largest number                                                 an average of pages in Largest required                         Types of job                                                                        page       storage     capacity                                 ______________________________________                                    Print buffer                                                                        200 K-byte at least 500                                                                           20 MB                                             /page      pages                                                Font buffer                                                                         200 K-byte at least 500                                                                          100 MB                                             /font      fonts                                                G3-Fax-receive                                                                      100 K-byte at least 500                                                                           50 MB                                   buffer    /page      pages                                                G3-Fax-send                                                                         100 K-byte at least 500                                                                           50 MB                                   buffer    /page      pages                                                Scanbuffer 1                                                                       400 K-byte at least 500                                                                          200 MB                                             /page      pages                                                Scanbuffer 2                                                                       3.2 M-byte at least 60 200 MB                                             /page      pages                                                Others    --         --                                                   Total     --         --                                                   ______________________________________                                     (Note 1) An average compressibility of image data is 1/5.                 (Note 2) Scan buffer1 comprises onebit data, and scan buffer2 comprises   8bit data.

5! Network Operations

Next description is made for network operations.

A multi-function machine with thedigital copier system 102 as a base, especially, a printer/scanner copier is a shared type of system product through a network. It is needless to say that the machine can be used as a one-to-one printer through an ordinary serial/parallel interface, and also as a one-to-one scanner through a SCSI, but a driver/utility each used through the network are more important.

A network in the network printing/scanning system according to the embodiment supports NetWare of Novell Co. as a first preference. A protocol used herein for network communications supports IPX/SPX of NetWare, TCP/IP of Unix, and Apple talk of Apple Co., but description is made only to the environment of NetWare for simplifying description therein.

Services provided as network solution in the system are provided through MFSA. NL (Multi-function Service Agent) operating on NetWare, and driver/utility software used in a client side communicating therewith. The provided services are described as follows:

(1) Network printing system (MFSA. NLM/Printer)

Message for a print-completion report

Print profile handling (identification and selection)

Print queue handling (identification and selection)

(2) Network scanning system (MFSA. NLM/Scanner)

Scanner profile handling

Scanner image file handling

(3) Network query function

Printer status

Scanner status

It should be noted that, the MFSA. NLM/Printer and MFSA. NLM/Scanner should be separated from each other in a form. For instance, by including the MFSA. NLM/Printer in a NIC option kit and including the MFSA. NLM/Scanner in a scan option kit, these services can be provided to clients as different options respectively.

It should be noted that the Network Query function is operated discretely from the MFSA. NLM, and the software, printer, and NIC in a client side each are directly communicated thereto for the execution.

6! Network Printer Function in the Present Embodiment

The network printing/scanning system according to the embodiment provides two types of service function of (1) a print-completion report and (2) definition of a print profile as characteristics of the network printer function.

Herein, the service function of the print-completion report provides a message for a print-completion report to a client (WS 103) when output of the printed data has actually been completed after the printing is requested. And the service function also provides in addition to the service described above a service for sending out an appropriate message when printing is suspended due to paper jam or paper out.

As for the other service function of definition of a print profile, the paper path and paper handling (e.g. specifying an output bin, specifying staple or the like) each specific to the system according to the present invention can be defined by a print job profile. When a user carries out printing for itself, and by specifying a particular paper path or paper handling, the user can make the printer execute the print job as the user wishes even without using printer driver specific to the system.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an operation of network printing and a job flow in the NetWare environment.

Incorporated in theWS 103 side are a plurality of software of a printer driver, printer network utility, and a print-notice.

Incorporated in thefile server 104 are a print queue server (the same as the existing one), a print profile, a message queue, and the MFSA. NLM for controlling those described above.

Incorporated in theNIC 106 in thedigital copier system 102 are print server software for taking out a print job from the print queue, and software for returning a print-notice (a result of execution of printing).

Incorporated in the scanner/printer controller 107 are software for queuing a print job, software for executing printing, and software for generating a message concerning a result of execution thereof and giving the message to theNIC 106.

Herein, further detailed description is made for (1) the print-completion report function with reference to FIG. 5. All print jobs generated in the printer driver in theWS 103 are transferred to a print queue of Novell/NetWare. A plurality of lines of the print queue of NetWare can be allocated to a unit of printer. In this step, at least one line of the queues is allocated as an ordinary print queue of NetWare, and another line thereof is allocated as a print queue for the MFSA. NLM/Printer. In a case where a print job is requested through the MFSA. NLM, a user can receive a message for a print-completion report when printing is actually completed.

Description is made for an operation flow in the print-completion report function with reference to FIG. 6. At first, a print job generated in the printer driver on aWS 103 is transferred to a print queue on thefile server 104 through the network (LAN) 101. The print queue function queues print jobs transferred from a plurality ofWSs 103 on thenetwork 101 in the inputted order (namely, time-sequentially).

Then, PSERVER (software for inputting a print job) on theNIC 106 takes out a print job from the print queue on thefile server 104 through thenetwork 101, and transfers the print job taken out above to the scanner/printer controller 107.

The scanner/printer controller 107 accumulates the inputted print jobs in a local print queue of the scanner/printer controller 107.

Then, the scanner/printer controller 107 takes out a print job time-sequentially from the local print queue, transfers the job to thecopier 105 and makes thecopier 105 execute the print job.

After the step described above, the scanner/printer controller 107 generates the corresponding message when a printout is actually completed in thecopier 105 or when the job is suspended due to paper jam or paper out or the like therein, and transfers the message to theNIC 106. TheNIC 106 transfers the inputted message to the MFSA. NLM on thefile server 104.

The MFSA. NLM of thefile server 104 accumulates the message transferred from theNIC 106 in the message queue, then time-sequentially takes out the message, and delivers the message to an owner (WS 103) of the print job.

As described above, in the present system the scanner/printer controller 107 generates a message in accordance with a state of completion of the print job at a point of time when the print job has successfully been completed in thecopier 105, and transfers the message to thecorresponding WS 103 through theNIC 106 and thefile server 104, so that an appropriate message is generated according to completion of the print job or to suspension thereof in the copier 105 (namely, the printer), and the message can be reported to a user.

On the other hand, in a case of an ordinary printing system of NetWare, a user can not receive a message when the printing is actually completed. Although a user can receive a print-completion report in the conventional type of NetWare, the report is nothing to do with whether the printing is actually completed or not because thefile server 104 outputs a print-completion report at a point of time when the print job is transferred from the print queue on thefile server 104 to the scanner/printer controller 107. Accordingly, even if the printing is suspended due to some trouble, a user could not receive the fact as a message. On the contrary, in the system according to the present embodiment as described above, a print-completion report is generated at a point of time when the printing is actually completed, and an appropriate message can be received when the job is suspended.

As for receiving of a message in aWS 103, for instance, there are some cases where it is troublesome for a user to receive a print-completion report (including therein a suspension report) for some reason, or a user considers that the current work should not be disturbed by anything even if the user requests a print job through the MFSA. NLM. Accordingly, in the present embodiment, selection of whether a user receives a print-completion report or not can be specified by the user (WS 103). More specifically, a select switch for selecting necessity or unnecessity of a print-completion report may be provided in a print profile described later, or an item for selection of necessity or unnecessity thereof may be provided in the utility for print function, and said item may be used as a switch.

However, the scanner/printer controller 107 generates a message for a print-completion report or a print suspension report regardless of user's necessity or unnecessity, and always transfers the message to theNIC 106. And theNIC 106 always transfers the message to the MFSA. NLM of thefile server 104. Herein, if the MFSA. NLM does not receive the message (due to e.g. a breakdown or the like), theNIC 106 repeats the operation for transferring it for a several times at a certain time interval. In a case where the message can not be transferred after repetition thereof for a specified number of times, the corresponding message is aborted.

As described above, the MFSA. NLM of thefile server 104 accumulates the message from the scanner/printer controller 107 in the message queue, and returns the message to the user (WS 103) having requested the corresponding print job. In this step, in a case where theWS 103 does not require to receive the message of a print-completion report or a print suspension report, the corresponding message is aborted.

In a case where the user has already logged out, the MFSA. NLM temporarily stores the corresponding message, and in a case where the identical user logs on again, the message is immediately returned thereto. If the user having requested the job logs off and does not log on within a preset period of time, the MFSA. NLM automatically abort the message.

It should be noted that messages a) to d) described below are prepared as messages of print completion or print suspension.

a) Print completion with success

b) Print suspension with paper jam

c) Print suspension with paper out

d) Print suspension with some error

Next detailed description is made for (2) definition of a print profile and the control sequence with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6. A user generates a print profile for itself under both environments of Windows and DOS, and can register the profile to the MFSA. NLM. The print profile controls paper handling and a print job such as print-out finishing or the like.

At first a print job generated by the print driver on theWS 103 is transferred to a print queue on thefile server 104 through the network (LAN) 101. The print queue queues print jobs transferred from a plurality ofWSs 103 on thenetwork 101 in the inputted order thereof (namely, time-sequentially).

On the other hand, a print profile prepared in the print network utility on theWS 103 is transferred to a print profile on thefile server 104 through the network (LAN), and is stored and maintained in the MFSA. NLM.

Then, when PSERVER (software for inputting a print job) on theNIC 106 takes out a print job from the print queue on thefile server 104 through thenetwork 101, the MFSA. NLM checks whether the print profile of the user requesting the print job is registered or not, or requested or not.

The MFSA. NLM, in a case where the corresponding print profile exists and its use is requested, couples the file of the print job to the print profile. The print job+print profile obtained after the coupling is transferred to theNIC 106.

TheNIC 106 transfers the print job including therein the print profile to the scanner/printer controller 107.

Then, the scanner/printer controller 107 takes out a print job time-sequentially from the local print queue, transfers the job to thecopier 105 and makes it execute the print job. In this step, if the print profile is included in the job, the command in the print job is replaced for a command in the print profile (override).

After the step described above, the scanner/printer controller 107 generates the corresponding message when a printout is actually completed in thecopier 105 or when the job is suspended due to paper jam or paper out or the like therein, and transfers the message to theNIC 106. TheNIC 106 transfers the inputted message to the MFSA. NLM on thefile server 104

As described above, in the system according to the embodiment, a print profile is prepared in theWS 103, and when the print profile is set to be used, the scanner/printer controller 107 overrides the old print profile to a new print profile, so that, in a case where a user wants to change the printing conditions, the contents of the print profile can be changed. Also, a print profile can be set for each print job, so that the convenience of use is improved.

The MFSA. NLM of thefile server 104 couples, in a case where the print profile is requested to be used, the print profile to the print job data and transfers it to the scanner/printer controller 107.

On the other hand, in a case the print profile is not requested to be used, the MFSA. NLM transfers only the actual print data to the scanner/printer controller 107, and does not transfer the print profile thereto. In this step, the print job operates an ordinary printing.

It should be noted that the MFSA. NLM has a default print profile, so that it is possible to copy the print profile by the printer network utility (software) in theWS 103, give a name of a user thereto, and modify and register the parameters by editing it. Also the print profile having been registered can be edited again, or the title of the profile can be changed.

After it is queued by the print queue on thefile server 104, the print job data is taken out time-sequentially, and is transferred to the scanner/printer controller 107. When the print job is taken out from the print queue, and is transferred to the scanner/printer controller 107, the MFSA. NLM checks whether a print profile having the same user's name exists on the print queue or not, and in a case where the print profile having the same user's name exists thereon and is requested to be used, the MFSA. NLM couples the print profile to the header of the print job, and transfers the job to the scanner/printer controller 107 as a new print job file.

On the other hand, in a case where the print profile does not exist thereon, or the use of the print profile is prohibited even if the profile exists thereon, the MFSA. NLM transfers the profile to the scanner/printer controller 107 without coupling the print profile to the print job. In this step, said print job is handled as ordinary print data.

If the scanner/printer controller 107 detects that the print profile is coupled to the print job, the command related to paper handling included in the original print job is replaced for a command defined in the print profile. Accordingly, a user can carry out printing in a form different from the contents of setting set by the printer driver in theWS 103. This function is effective in a client machine operated by DOS, and can effectively be used also in a client machine operated by Windows. For instance, after the contents is set once, paper can always be printed out to the output tray allocated to the user without setting the output tray by the printer driver each time when the output is carried out.

7! Network Scanner Function according to the Embodiment

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing an operation of the network scanning and an job flow under the NetWare environment.

Incorporated in theWS 103 are a scanner driver, a scan profile handler, and a scan image file handler. It should be noted that the scan profile handler together with the scan image file handler is called as a scanner network utility.

Incorporated in thefile server 104 are a scan profile, a scan image file, and software of a MFSA. NLM for controlling the above two (herein, MFSA. NLM/Scanner).

Incorporated in theNIC 106 is software for receiving the scan profile and scan image file from the MFSA. NLM, giving them to the scanner/printer controller 107, receiving the scan image file from the scanner/printer controller 107, and giving it to the MFSA. NLM. These contents of the software is functionally the same as those of the network printer function.

Incorporated in the scanner/printer controller 107 are software for handling the scan profile, displaying it on theoperating panel 111, and making it select, software for executing local scanning, and software for giving the scan image file (image file) to the MFSA. NLM through theNIC 106.

An operation of the network scanner function can be divided into three stages described below. It should be noted that operations in these three stages can discretely be carried out from each other in time.

A first stage: scan profile handling

A second stage: local scanning

A third stage: scan image file handling

Next concrete description is made for the contents of work carried out in each stage with reference to FIG. 8. Works described below are carried out in the first stage: scan profile handling.

1) Generation of a scan profile on a WS 103 (work of a scanner driver).

2) Transfer and Registration of the scan profile to the MFSA. NLM on the file server 104 (work of a scanner driver).

3) Display of a list of the scan profile having been registered (work of a scanner network utility or of an OS command).

4) Identification of reading out the scan profile from the MFSA. NLM (work of scanner network utility).

5) Edit and modification of the read-out scan profile (work of scanner network utility).

6) Reregistration of the read-out scan profile (work of scanner network utility).

7) Deletion of the existing scan profile on the MFSA. NLM (work of a scanner network utility or of an OS command).

8) Change of the title of the existing scan profile on the MFSA. NLM (work of a scanner network utility or of an OS command).

9) Validation of preference on scan profiles (work of scanner network utility).

It should be noted that, in the present embodiment, all scan profiles are stored on thefile server 104 by the MFSA. NLM. And the scanner/printer controller 107 stores copies of all the scan profiles on the scanner/printer controller 107. Then, in a case where there is some change in any of the scan profiles, the copy thereof on the scanner/printer controller 107 is immediately updated.

A MFSA. NLM of thefile server 104 becomes active when the scan profile is transferred to the scanner/printer controller 107. Timing of the case described above is provided when the data is registered anew in the scan profile in thefile server 104, when the data is updated, and when a power is started up. Namely, the MFSA. NLM becomes active so that all the scan profiles on the scanner/printer controller 107 will always be maintained in the latest state.

A default scan profile is prepared in the scan profile managed by the MFSA. NLM in thefile server 104, and the default scan profile can be copied by the scanner network utility in theWS 103, so that it is possible to change the title of the profile, to edit or modify it, and to reregister the profile.

In another embodiment, the configuration is allowable where all scan profiles are stored only on thefile server 104 by the MFSA. NLM, and the copies of the scan profiles are not stored on the scanner/printer controller 107. In this case, the required scan profile on thefile server 104 is transferred to the scanner/printer controller 107 according to the request from the scanner/printer controller 107 as requested.

Description below shows items controlled in scan profiles.

a) Specified document size and the direction

b) Specified mode for transferring a document

c) Specified quality of read document

d) Specified resolution

e) Specified scanned area

f) Specified brightness

g) Specified contrast

h) Specified threshold

i) Specified title of an image file

j) Specified parameters of the TIFF

Next description is made for the contents of work of the second stage: local scanning with reference to FIG. 8.

1) Initiation of execution of the network scanner function from theoperating panel 111

2) Display of a list of titles for the scan profiles on theoperating panel 111

However, the latest title of the scan profile preferentially specified by a user (WS 103) should be brought to the header of the list. Also, the title of the scan profile lately used is preferentially displayed at the header portion of the list.

3) Specification and selection of a title of a desired scan profile

It should be noted that as a result, a list of the contents of the scan profiles is displayed.

4) Identifying the list of the contents of the scan profiles

5) Mounting a document on a feeder (ARDF)

6) Pressing a scan-start switch (copy-start switch)

As a result, scan is started. In a case where a multi-document scan is carried out according to the ARDF, feed-in, scanning, and feed-out are automatically repeated until all documents are completed to be scanned.

7) Temporarily compressing a scanned image and accumulating it in theHDD 109

8) After the scanning is completed, taking out the image data from theHDD 109, decompressing it, and converting it to the TIFF under the specified condition again

9) Transferring the TIFF to the MFSA. NLM of thefile server 104 through theNIC 106

10) The MFSA. NLM of thefile server 104 stores the received TIFF in a memory of thefile server 104

To carry out local scanning, the scan profile can be selected through theoperating panel 111 on thecopier 105. Prior to carry out local scanning from the utility in theWS 103, the scan profile to be selected can be operated. The title of the lately operated scan profile or of the lately used one is displayed at the header of the list.

After the local scanning is completed according to a specified sequence, the scanner/printer controller 107 transfers the stored image file to the MFSA. NLM of thefile server 104 through theNIC 106. In a case where the MFSA. NLM is in a state where it can not receive the image file (e.g. due to an insufficient file space, or some trouble in thefile server 104 or the like), the image file is stored in the scanner/printer controller 107. After the step, in a case where the MFSA. NLM of thefile server 104 can establish communications again, the scanner/printer controller 107 immediately transfers the image file to the MFSA. NLM. In this case, the scanner/printer controller 107 repeats to transfer the image file several times at specified time intervals.

In a case where any space to store the image file is not left in the scanner/printer controller 107 during the local scanning, the scanner/printer controller 107 displays a message of an insufficient memory space on theoperating panel 111.

In a case where document feed jam occurs therein during the local scanning, the scanner/printer controller 107 displays the number of sheets of document scanned up to the point of time to identify the continued number of the document, and asks the user about the number of the document to be scanned further. In this step, the scanner/printer controller 107 couples the previously accumulated image file to the image file inputted by the following scanning.

To prevent double feeding of the document, the scanner/printer controller 107 keeps on displaying a number of pages having been scanned on theoperating panel 111 while the scanning is being carried out. When all scanning is completed, all the number of pages are displayed thereon, so that the user can learn whether double feeding has eventually been generated or not by identifying the number of sheets of its own document to the number of scanned sheets of the document.

Further, various types of error or trouble may occur during local scanning. In this case, it is required to display an appropriate message on theoperating panel 111. Messages described below are displayed in the embodiment.

a) An insufficient memory for execution of the image processing

b) An insufficient capacity of the local hard disk (HDD 109)

c) Impossibility to continue processing due to its complicatedness

d) Unauthorized title of a scan profile

e) Insufficient space for storing therein afile server 104

It should be note that, after the local scanning is completed, the scanner/printer controller 107 displays a title of the corresponding image file on theoperating panel 111. Displaying the title of the image file is required for the user to carry out the subsequent processing.

Next description is made for the contents of work of the third stage: scan image file handling with reference to FIG. 8.

1) Taking out an image file on the file server 104 (work of the scanner driver)

2) Identifying the list of the accumulated image files (scan image files) (work of scanner network utility or of an OS command)

3) Displaying a monitored image of the image file (work of scanner network utility)

4) Transferring an image file to the WS 103 (work of scanner network utility or of an OS command)

5) Deleting the image file (work of scanner network utility or of an OS command)

6) Changing the title of the image file (work of scanner network utility or of an OS command)

The MFSA. NLM of thefile server 104 does not automatically transfer an image file to theWS 103. All the data related to the whole network scan (both of scan profiles and image files) is accumulated and stored in thefile server 104. Then, only in a case where a transfer is requested, the image file is transferred from thefile server 104 to theWS 103.

The scanner/printer controller 107 generates a TIFF by using specified parameters. Then an image file in the TIFF format is transferred to the MFSA. NLM on thefile server 104 through the NIC106. Parameters of the TIFF are specified by a scan profile.

The scan image file (image file) are identified by names with two types of method described below.

Firstly, in a case where a title is set in a scan profile, a title specified by the scan profile is used as a title of a scan image file. It should be noted that, when a title is set to a scan profile, and in a case where the same title of the scan image file has already been used, warning is given to theWS 103.

Secondary, in a case where a title is not set in a scan profile, a title of a scan profile itself is used as a title of the scan image file. In this step, the title of the scan profile is not changed, but the extension thereof is changed. For instance, nine titles of file from xxxxxxxx. im0 to xxxxxxxx. im9 can be used. It is assumed in this system that one unit of scan job is stored with one file title.

It should be noted that titles of scan image files are managed according to a tree structure. Accordingly, the tree structure appears also on theoperating panel 111 of thecopier 105.

8! Status Query Function according to the Present Embodiment

In both the network printer function and the network scanner function according to the system, a status and configuration as a MIB (Management Information Base) can be queried through the SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol). The SNMP manager as utility software in theWS 103 can take out an NIC MIB, a printer MIB (standard and custom), and a scanner MIB. The query function is carried out through direct communications between theWS 103 and the digital copier system without through the MFSA. NLM of thefile server 104

FIG. 9 shows a mechanism of the status query. The NIC106 returns the prepared data as it is as a response if there is a query (command) on the NIC MIB. Also if there is a query (command) on the printer MIB or the scanner MIB, theNIC 106 returns each data for the MIBs as a response by using a command/response (PSIO) defined between theNIC 106 and the scanner/printer controller 107.

Described below are (1) a list of queried items by the printer MIB, (2) a list of queried items from the scanner MIB, and (3) a network managing function required for the utility software in theWS 103.

(1) Queried items by the printer MIB

a) State of a paper feed tray

Paper size and setting direction for each tray

Presence or absence of paper in each tray

b) A paper discharge tray and the state thereof

Standard one-bin tray

One-bin finisher

presence or absence of overflow

effectiveness of a staple function

Three-bin sorter

state of job assignment

15-bin sorter

state of job assignment

presence or absence of any paper left in any of the trays

c) State of any printer error

Serviceman call error

User recovery-capable error

Paper jam

State of supply

State how the current machine runs

d) A type and a title of a printer

e) Configuration of the paper feeder and discharger

(2) Queried items from the scanner MIB

a) State of any scanner error

Serviceman call error

User recovery-capable error

Document jam

Current state of the machine's operation

b) Usable memory capacity

c) Storable capacity of hard disk

(3) Network management functions required for utility software in theWS 103

Minimum number of network management functions described below are required for the utility software in theWS 103.

a) Identifying a state of on-line/off-line of a machine

b) A state of connecting a print queue and a state of connecting a printer

c) Modification of setting the print queue and selection of a printer

d) Identifying a stand-by state of jobs in the print queue

e) Changing a preferential order of the jobs in the print queue

f) Setting a time interval for queries on identifying the state (an SNMP calling interval)

9! Printer Driver, Scanner Driver, and Utility

A driver is required regardless of purposes of the network or of whether a machine is stand-alone type (of a printer and a scanner) or not. An interface in a lower level in theWS 103 determines whether each job is to be passed through the network or not, or whether each job is to be passed through each interface for a printer, a scanner, and a copier respectively or not. Herein, description is not made for the interface in the lower level.

The network printing/scanning system according to the embodiment supports printer drivers, scanner drivers, and the utilities each described below.

As a printer driver and the utility, the system supports:

a) PCL5e/Windows 3.1 Printer Driver

b)PostScript 2/Windows 3.1 Printer Driver

c)PostScript 2/Macintosh Printer Driver

d) TIFF/Windows 3.1 Printer Utility

Also, as a scanner driver/ the utility, the system supports:

a) TWAIN/Windows 3.1 Scanner Driver (for SCSI and virtual)

b) TWAIN/Macintosh Scanner Driver (for SCSI)

c) ISIS/Windows 3.1 Scanner Driver (for SCSI and virtual)

d) ISIS/Macintosh Scanner Driver (for SCSI)

Furthermore, more specified items are described below in the order of items to be supported by a printer driver! and items to be supported by a scanner driver!.

Items to be supported by a printer driver!

1) Selecting a paper size

2) Selecting a paper feed tray

a) Automatic selection

b) Specifying a physical tray

Large capacity paper feed tray (LCIT)

First paper feed tray

Manual paper feed tray

Second paper feed tray

Third paper feed tray

Forth paper feed tray

3) Specifying a printing direction

a) Portrait

b) Landscape

4) Specifying a paper discharge tray

a) Standard one-bin paper discharge tray

b) One-bin finisher (option)

c) Three-bin sorter (option)

Upper tray

Middle tray

Lower tray

d) 15-bin finisher (option)

Most-upper tray (No. 1)

Middle tray (No. 2 to No. 15)

Interruption tray

5) Setting a number of printed sheets of paper

a) Standard one-bin paper discharge tray

Stack by maximum 250 sheets

b) One-bin finisher (option)

Stack by maximum 1500 sheets

c) Three-bin sorter (option)

Upper tray; stack by maximum 500 sheets

Middle tray; stack by maximum 250 sheets

Lower tray; stack by maximum 250 sheets

d) 15-bin finisher (option)

Most-upper tray; stack by maximum 150 sheets

Middle tray; stack by maximum 50 sheets

Interruption tray; stack by maximum 100 sheets

6) Setting assortment

a) Standard one-bin paper discharge tray

Insertion of separating sheet; On/Off

b) One-bin finisher (option)

Offset stack; On/Off

c) Three-bin sorter (option)

Upper tray; offset stack; On/Off

Middle/lower tray; insertion of separating sheet; On/Off

d) 15-bin finisher (option)

Multi-stage tray; insertion of separating sheet; On/Off

Interruption tray; insertion of separating sheet; On/Off

7) Specifying a staple function

a) Staple function; On/Off

b) Position for stapling

Stapled at one point at the right above

Stapled at two points at a center of the left edge

Stapled at two points at a center of the upper edge

8) Selecting adjustment of an image quality

a) Smoothing; On/Off

9) Selecting resolution

a) Standard image (300 dpi)

b) Detailed image (400 dpi)

c) Fine image (600 dpi)

10 Specifying a double-sided or a single-sided

a) single-sided printing

b) Double-sided printing

Longitudinal-edge binding

Latitudinal-edge binding

TIFF print utility software generates a print job by coupling the TIFF to printing conditions. The printing conditions are described with JPL in the utility software. The JPL specifies paper handling. However, items for specification of a printing direction and for specification of resolution are excluded from the printing conditions described above.

The TIFF print utility software has to couple the TIFF data to a printing condition file before the printing data is transferred to the printer. It is preferable that a socket is provided in the software as an option so that filter software to convert 8-bit gray scale data for the TIFF to 1-bit half-tone data can be added thereto. The reason is that there is a case where 8-bit gray scale data can not be printed by a printer of acopier 105.

Items to be supported by a scanner driver!

1) Setting a document size and a method of feeding a document

a) Paper size and latitudinal-edge feeding

b) Paper size and longitudinal-edge feeding

2) Specifying a document feeding mode

a) Scanning a book type document

b) Scanning a single side and multi-number of pages

Scanning pages in the normal order (setting documents in face-up mode)

Scanning pages in the reverse order (setting documents in face-up mode)

c) Scanning double sides and multi-number of pages

Scanning pages in the normal order (setting documents in face-up mode)

Scanning pages in the reverse order (setting documents in face-up mode)

3) Specifying a form of image data to be read

a) Character/line drawing mode (1-bit monochrome)

b) Intermediate-tone mode (1-bit half tone)

Photographed image mode (dither processing)

(Fine photographed image mode (dither processing (for fine processing))

Character/photographed image-mixed mode (error diffusion processing)

c) Gray scale mode (8-bit gray scale)

4) Specifying resolution

a) Resolution in the X direction (from 25 to 1600 dpi)

b) Resolution in the Y direction (from 25 to 600 dpi)

a) Resolution in the XY direction (from 25 to 1600 dpi)

5) Specifying an area to be read

a) Offset in the X direction

b) Offset in the Y direction

c) Length in the X direction

d) Length in the Y direction

6) Specifying an image quality mode

7) Setting a brightness

a) Shading at 7 levels

8) Setting a contrast

a) Contrast at 7 levels

9) Setting a threshold

a) Gray scale at 7 levels

10) Specifying reversion of an image

a) Presence or absence of reverse; On/Off

One to one scanning through a SCSI is always carried out by the scanner driver in theWS 103. A processing flow is described below.

1) Feeding-in documents from an ARDF (only when the ARDF is attached)

a) Automatically feeding-in a single document

b) Automatically feeding-in a plurality of documents

2) Setting scanning conditions

3) Receiving scanned data

a) Pre-scanned data

b) Finally-scanned data

4) Discharging documents from the ARDF (only when the ARDF is attached)

a) Automatically discharging a single document

b) Automatically discharging a plurality of documents

Both modes of the normal page order and the reverse page order are required in the network scanner function because thedigital copier system 102 according to the present embodiment is constructed based on thecopier 105. In a case where thecopier 105 is provided therein as a base, document to be read are set on the ARDF with the face up, and scanning is started from the final page of the documents. The documents can most efficiently be fed in this method, and a speed of scanning repeatedly therein is highest. However, there is a problem that pages having been scanned are stacked in the reverse order.

For this reason, to correct this order, In a case of a reverse page order, a scan image file is temporarily generated by each page, and after all scanning is completed, the page order is reversed and is merged as one unit of file.

As described above, the method of reporting a result of execution of a print job in a network system according to the present invention, comprises a first step in which the server machine receives the print job outputted from the plurality of client machines, time-sequentially queues the print job, generates a job ID corresponding to the print job, stores therein the generated job ID, a user ID of the print job, and a connection ID; a second step in which the network interface controller takes out the queued print job on the server machine by each job and transfers the job to the printer controller; a third step in which the printer controller stores a job ID of the print job received from the network interface controller, and carries out the print job; a fourth step in which the printer controller generates an appropriate message based on a state of completion of the print job or on a state of suspension thereof and returns the message together with the job ID to the network interface controller; a fifth step in which the network interface controller receives the message with the job ID included therein from the printer controller and transfers the received message to the server machine; a sixth step in which the server machine time-sequentially queues the message with the job ID included therein received from the printer controller through the network interface controller, checks the job ID of the queued message, specifies a job owner from a user ID and a connection ID corresponding to the job ID, and in a case where the specified job owner exists on the network, the server machine immediately transfers the message to the corresponding client machine; and a seventh step in which the client machine receives the message from the server machine and automatically displays contents of the message on a screen, so that an appropriate message is generated based on a state of completion of the print job or a state of suspension thereof in a printer, and the message can be reported to a user.

In the network printing/scanning system according to the present invention, the message displaying function comprises software resident on the client machine, so that messages can always be displayed thereon.

In the network printing/scanning system according to the present invention, the client machine comprises a necessity/unnecessity data adding function for adding thereto data thereof, when the print job is outputted to the server machine, as to whether a message for the time when the corresponding print job i s completed or is suspended is required or not, and the server machine has a maintaining function for maintaining or storing the necessity/unnecessity data added to the print job, and a message aborting function for preventing send-out of the message to a job owner by the message send-out function, and aborting the corresponding message in a case where the message is not required, so that the system can control any message not to be received and not to be displayed thereon if not required. More specifically, some users do not require any message for completion of the print job or suspension thereof. For instance, some users may feel troublesome to receive messages during doing another work. In these cases, the system can avoid from reducing the workability without bothering a user.

In the network printing/scanning system according to the present invention, the server machine, in a case where the job owner specified by the job owner specifying function does not exist on the network due to log-out or a power being tuned off, has a message processing terminating function for aborting the corresponding message and terminating the processing, so that even if the job owner logs-out or turns a power OFF without waiting for a message to be returned, any incomplete jobs (messages) are not left on the system. Namely, in a case where there is no destination of a message to be sent back, this type of conflict as a system can be avoided.

In the network printing/scanning system according to present invention, the server machine, in a case where the job owner specified by the job owner specifying function does not exist on the network due to log-out or a power being tuned off, comprises a message queue function for maintaining or storing the corresponding message in the message queue, periodically checking whether the specified job owner logs in again or not, and immediately transfers the message maintained or stored in the message queue when the log-in is identified, so that even if a job owner logs-out or turns a power OFF once without waiting for a message to be returned, the job owner can receive the message if he logs in again. Namely, in a case where there is no destination of a message to be sent back, this type of conflict as a system can be avoided.

In the network printing/scanning system according to the present invention, the message queue function deletes the corresponding message maintained or stored in the message queue in a case where the specified job owner has not logged in again after a specified period of time preset by a manager of the network has past, so that even if the job owner logs-out or turns a power OFF without waiting for a message to be returned, any incomplete jobs (messages) are not left on the system. Namely, in a case where there is no destination of a message to be sent back, this type of conflict as a system can be avoided.

In the network printing/scanning system according to the present invention, a message generated by the message generating/returning function comprises a print-completion report message in a case where all pages have completely been printed out as specified, a paper jam message in a case where the printing is disabled due to a paper jam, a paper end message in a case where the printing is disabled due to paper running out, and an error message in a case where the printing can not be continued due to some machine troubles, so that it is possible to know more specifically about a state of completion of the printing or of suspension thereof according to the message.

In the network printing/scanning system according to the present invention, the server machine comprises a print queue function for time-sequentially queuing print jobs each outputted from the plurality of client machines; a print profile maintaining function for maintaining or storing print profiles for specifying settings of printing conditions such as specifying passage of paper, and finishing the print job in a plurality of files; a user ID storage function for storing user IDs for owners each having a print profile respectively for each the print profile; a print profile linking function for checking whether the print file is stored or not with the identical user ID to the corresponding print job when the print job queued by the print queuing function is transferred to the network interface controller, linking the corresponding profile to a header of the print job and setting an identification flag indicating the linking in a case where a print profile for the identical user ID exists therein,

the network interface controller comprises a print job transferring function for taking out one of the print jobs queued on the server machine by each job, and transferring the job to the scanner/printer controller,

the scanner/printer controller comprises a command overwrite function for checking whether the print profile is linked to the print job received from the network interface controller or not, and replacing the command related to paper handling included in the print job for a command related to the identical paper handling included in the print profile in a case where the print profile is connected to the print job, and

the client machine comprises a print profile reregistering function for editing, modifying, and reregistering the contents of the print profile maintained or stored on the server machine, so that printing conditions can be set for each user by making use of a print profile, and a user can use the conditions. A paper handling function specific to each printer is generally used with a printer driver specifically designed for the printer. However, it is troublesome for a user to specify the paper handling function in the printer driver each time when the printing is carried out. For instance, in a multi-stage paper discharge tray device, it is quite convenient and handy to allocate bins to each user so that the user can always output paper to the allocated output tray. Especially in a case where a DOS-based machine is a client machine, it used to be difficult to supply a printer driver to a user from a printer maker, so that specifying the function with the print profile becomes extremely convenient for a user. In other words, printing conditions can be set for each user with a print profile, and a user can use the conditions, which makes it possible to improve the convenience of use for a user.

In the network printing/scanning system according to the present invention, the print profile maintaining function in the server machine previously maintains or stores print profiles of the default, the print profile reregistering function in the client machine calls up a default print profile onto the server machine, edits and modifies the profile, the profile can be registered anew with the user ID with which the profile is edited and modified, and a flag for setting whether the print profile itself is used or not is provided in the print profile, so that a print profile can easily be set.

In the network printing/scanning system according to the present invention, the server machine comprises a scan profile maintaining function for maintaining or storing scan profiles for setting scanning conditions such as a document size and reading conditions or the like in a plurality of files; a scan profile transferring function for transferring all scan profiles to the scanner/printer controller through the network interface controller in a case where a power for the scanner controller is started up and in a case where there is any addition to or change in the scan profile maintained or stored in the scan profile maintaining function; and a scan image file storage function for storing therein the scan image file transferred from the scanner/printer controller through the network interface controller according to the prespecified filing system,

the scanner/printer controller comprises a copied scan profile maintaining function for maintaining or storing the all scan profiles transferred from the server machine as copied scan profiles; a list selecting function for displaying a list of copied scan profiles on the operating panel in a case where the network scanner function is required through the operating panel of the copier, and making it select a desired scan profile; a scan profile identifying function for displaying the contents of the scan profile selected through the list selecting function, and making the user identify it; a scan operation starting function for starting up the scanning operation by controlling the copier when the start switch on the operating panel is pressed; a scan image data accumulating function for temporarily accumulating scan image data read out by the copier; and a scan image file transferring function for converting all scan image data to specified formats and transferring them to the server machine as scan image files after all the documents have been scanned, and

the client machine comprises a scan profile reregistering function for editing, modifying, and reregistering the contents of the scan profile maintained or stored on the server machine, and a scan image file reading function for reading the scan image file stored by the scan image file storage function of the server machine and handling the file as an ordinary image file, so that it is possible to provide functions in which the convenience of work for receiving image data from the scanner through the network and the workability thereof are improved. Especially a network scanner function has not been defined as a general concept, and in local scanning with a scan profile, a method of using a scanner in its new concept can be provided to a user. Also by using a scan profile, high-convenience of use to fixed work (routine work) can be provided.

In the network printing/scanning system according to the present invention, the scan profile maintaining function in the server machine previously maintains or stores default scan profiles, and the scan profile reregistering function in the client machine calls up a default scan profile on the server machine, edits and modifies the profile, and can set a title of a scan profile anew for registration, and also the same user can set a plurality of scan profiles, so that a scan profile can easily be set.

In the network printing/scanning system according to the present invention, a preference of scan profiles to be used can be set by the scan profile reregistering function of the client machine, and the list of copied scan profiles is displayed according to the set preference in the list selecting function of the scanner/printer controller, so that, when local scanning is carried out, which scan profile is to be scanned can be specified from the client machine, and even in a case where the scanning is carried out through the copier provided in a place apart therefrom, the scanning can easily be requested to a third person, and for this reason the convenience of use can be improved.

In the network printing/scanning system according to the present invention, the scan profile can be registered in a tree-structured directory system in which subdirectory can be set by the scan profile reregistering function of the client machine, and when a list of the copied scan profile is displayed, the list of the scan profile is displayed in a tree-structured directory system by the list selecting function of the scanner/printer controller, so that scan profiles can easily be managed, and the operability thereof can be improved.

In the network printing/scanning system according to the present invention, the scanner/printer controller comprises a title displaying function for displaying a title of the scan image data accumulated by the scan image data accumulating function on the operating panel at a point of time when the scanning is finished; a page number displaying function for displaying a page number each time when scanning is finished in a case where a multi-document is scanned by using an ADRF (automatic document reverse feeder); an error displaying function for displaying contents of the error in a case where any error occurs in the middle of scanning; a rescanning demanding function for displaying a message in which a necessary page number is displayed and rescanning is demanded from the corresponding page on the operating panel in a case where the scanning can be continued under the error; and a scan image data deleting function for automatically deleting the scan image data temporarily accumulated until then in a case where the scanning can be continued under the error, so that a display of pages to be scanned, a display of a title of a scan image file when it is finished, and a display of the number of scanned pages can be carried out on the operating panel. Accordingly, a restarted page when the printer is recovered from the paper jam can easily be identified, the convenience of use when the after-processing is carried out is improved, and any document repeatedly transferred can easily be found.

In the network printing/scanning system according to the present invention, the scan image file transferring function in the scanner/printer controller stores therein the corresponding scan image file, and automatically repeats to transfer the corresponding scan image file at a specified time intervals in a case where the scan image file can not be transferred for some reasons after the scanning of all the document is finished, so that even if any inconvenience occurs in a server machine, scanning can be carried out, and for this reason, a degree of completion as a system can be enhanced.

In the network printing/scanning system according to the present invention, the scan profile comprises items each for defining a title of the scan image file and items each for defining a format such as a compressed format of the scan image file or the like, and the scan image file transferring function of the scanner/printer controller handles the plurality of scan image data obtained by one unit of scanning job as one unit of scan image file, converts the format of the scan image data according to the format defined by the scanning profile, and transfers the data as one unit of scan image file, so that, by writing a sequence of after-processing into a scan profile, the operability of the whole system can be improved, and a degree of completion as a system can be enhanced.

In the network printing/scanning system according to the present invention, the scan image data accumulating function of the scan profile accumulates scan image data by each page, and the scan image file transferring function of the scanner/printer controller reads out the accumulated scan image data in the decreasing order of the pages, converts the format of the scan image data, and transfers the data as one unit of scan image file after the scanning of all the document is finished, so that scanning can be executed at the maximum speed which the digital copier system can make, and at the same time an order of pages of copied paper can be arranged as the documents are arranged. Also when scan image data is temporarily accumulated, the data can be stored by each page, and in a case where document jam occurs, the scanning can be continued without any difficulty, and a degree of completion as a system can be enhanced.

In the network printing/scanning system according to the present invention, the server machine comprises a scan profile maintaining function for maintaining or storing scan profiles for setting scanning conditions such as a document size and reading conditions or the like in a plurality of files; a sscan profile transferring function for transferring a list of all scan profiles to the scanner/printer controller in a case where the list of all the scan profiles is requested to be transferred from the scanner/printer controller, and transferring the corresponding scan profile thereto in a case where a particular scan profile is requested to be transferred; and a scan image file storage function for storing therein the scan image file transferred from the scanner/printer controller through the network interface controller according to the prespecified filing system,

the scanner/printer controller comprises a list selecting function for outputting a request of transferring all the scan profiles to the server machine in a case where the network scanner function is requested through the operating panel of the copier, displaying a list of all the scan profiles transferred from the server machine on the operating panel, and making it select a desired scan profile; a scan profile identifying function for outputting a request of transferring the scan profile selected by the list selecting function, displaying the contents of the corresponding scan profile on the operating panel, and making the user identify it; a scan operation starting function for starting up the scanning operation by controlling the copier when the start switch on the operating panel is pressed; a scan image data accumulating function for temporarily accumulating scan image data read out by the copier; and a scan image file transferring function for converting all scan image data to specified formats and transferring them to the server machine as scan image files after all the documents have scanned, and

the client machine comprises a scan profile reregistering function for editing, modifying, and reregistering the contents of the scan profile stored on the server machine, and a scan image file reading function for reading the scan image file stored by the scan image file storage function of the server machine, and handling the file as an ordinary image file, so that it is possible to provide functions in which the convenience of work for receiving image data from a scanner through a network and the workability thereof can be improved. Especially a network scanner function has not been defined as a general concept, and for this reason, in local scanning using a scan profile, a method of using a scanner having a new concept can be provided to a user. Also by using a scan profile, high-convenience can be provided to fixed work (routine work).

Furthermore, all scan profiles are stored only on the server machine, and a scan profile is not resident in a scanner/printer controller side, so that, for instance, as compared to a case where all scan profiles are resident on both the server machine and a scan profile, for instance, a situation, in which a user is selecting one of scan profiles on the operating panel of the copier, and concurrently another user is modifying the contents of the same scan profile from a client machine, can be prevented.

This application is based on Japanese patent application No. HEI 7-248187 filed in the Japanese Patent Office on Sep. 26, 1995, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a specific embodiment for a complete and clear disclosure, the appended claims are not to be thus limited but are to be construed as embodying all modifications and alternative constructions that may occur to one skilled in the art which fairly fall within the basic teaching herein set forth.